'Twas the Night Before Christmas ....

(As read by Reggie-the-Crow)

'Twas the Night before Christmas, when all throught the house ...

not a creature was stirring, not even a Mouse ...

'What Mouse?' Where??? Point it out to me, quick!"

"Will you stop it already? I just said there were no Mice -- You're interrupting the story! Anyway ... The stockings were hung by the chimney with care ...

... in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

"Should we have hung up stockings?? What if Santa doesn't leave us any presents?"

"We're birds; we don't have any stockings. Besides, Santa mostly leaves presents under the tree now. Now let's skip the sugar plums and move on."

... And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settle down for a long winter's nap...

When outside my window arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter! I opened the window and threw back the sash ...

"Can we skip to the part where Santa comes in?"

... When what, to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer!


...With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer ...

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot; and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of toys he had thrown on his back, and he looked like a peddlar just opening his pack.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

"Why does Santa shake like a bowl full of jelly? Why not shake like a snow globe? Or a leaf?"

"Go to sleep; or else Santa won't be visiting this nest when he moves on!"

I heard him exclaim, ere he flew out of sight ...

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!!!